Origin
Winston-Salem, NC
Late night in Winston-Salem on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winston-Salem, NC to High Point, NC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
20 mi
32 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transit between Winston-Salem and High Point, you are looking at a straightforward 20.5-mile journey that typically takes about 27 minutes. This short trip is perfect for a single day, as it functions more like a local commute than a long-haul excursion. You will navigate using a combination of US 158 East, Salem Parkway, and US 52 South to reach your destination within the Southeast region. With fuel costs estimated at approximately $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly drive. Because the distance is so manageable, you do not need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated logistics, making it a highly flexible option for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 74 | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| North Main Street | 4.1 mi | 8m |
| John Gold Memorial Expressway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| I 40 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Salem Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 74
— 9.8 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winston-Salem, NC and High Point, NC.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
3
Merge onto US 421; US 158; NC 150
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Salem Parkway
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 232C
Toward US 52 South: Lexington
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto US 52; NC 8
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
John Gold Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 107A
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
8
Take the exit onto I 74
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
I 74
Exit 196
Toward I 74 East: High Point
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
this road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on North Main Street
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 5.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 158 East, US 421 South, NC 150 East
8
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward US 52 South: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 232C
Toward US 52 South: Lexington
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge onto US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East: Greensboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 107A
Toward I 40 East: Greensboro
7
5.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 74
Take the exit onto I 74 toward I 74 East: High Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 196
Toward I 74 East: High Point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.13 one way
$6.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.42 | $6.84 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.70 | $7.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.42 | $8.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
High Point, NC
Late night in High Point on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
28m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this route. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more involved experience behind the wheel as you navigate local roads. There is no long-distance highway stretch to speak of, as the longest segment on US 158 East is 0 miles, keeping the drive feeling active and varied. You will find yourself navigating shifting road patterns as you transition between the primary corridors. This setup requires your full attention, as the route relies on local infrastructure to connect the two cities efficiently.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.8 mi on I 74.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 74 and North Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 20 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
938 ft
818 ft
Total Climb
323 ft
Total Descent
312 ft
Highest Point
938 ft
~10 mi in
Elevation Range
121 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Winston-Salem, NC
Full guide →Winston-Salem is a city in North Carolina. It has an approximate population of 251,000 (2022). Winston-Salem is one of three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad; the others are Greensboro and High Point.
Arriving in High Point, NC
Full guide →High Point is part of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, along with Greensboro and Winston-Salem. High Point is often referred to as the furniture capital of the world due not only to the large number of furniture manufactures in the area, but also because of the International Home Furnishings Markets held each spring and fall. Over 8 million square feet of showroom space is used to draw over 70,000 people from all over the world to each market. This nearly doubles the population of High Point resulting in an economic boom to the entire Triad Area as hotel and motel rooms sell out and many residents rent out rooms, floors, or even their entire home for all or part of the 7 to 10 days during the market period.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 20 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.8 miles on I 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at High Point, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (US 52; NC 8 / John Gold Memorial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at High Point, NC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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